During the lockup time, I started to paint because a few friends got together and said, let’s have a 2 weakly competition. We did this for about 8-10mths. It go us through a long and for some lonely time. We were all over sixty and had not painted since we were in school as young teens. We hadn’t got a clue but we did it and it was so much fun. Every 2 weeks we’d send our paintings via WhatsApp to a friend or a family member, not telling who’s was who’s. The buildup to the finals every couple of weeks was intense and so much fun. We don’t all live in the same country so it was especially heartwarming to have the camaraderie across the world. I’ve carried on with the painting, I haven’t sold anything but I have given paintings to my grandchildren and my children and they have all wanted different ones sometimes wanting the same 😊 so my paintings are all over the world right now and I’m still painting. I have no idea at the moment what my style is, it’s quite iritic and I love painting whatever I see in the canvas but I also paint landscape and tigers and pelicans 😃😃I’m just finishing the second of 3 paintings for my daughter which are kind of caricature, there called “ painting you better” . I’m lucky as I don’t need to sell anything, I wish you all the very best along your paths of art.
I just love you! I love watching your videos, your voice, your personality, your wisdom, your work, & I could go on and on. Thanks so much for taking the time to make these videos and share your gift to those of us who can’t afford classes. You share such a wealth of knowledge. You are a such a blessing and an inspiration🙏
I like your method. It makes sense to ask a different price for a painting I am more attached to that's the same size as another that didn't turn out as well but is still nice. I recently felt "off" when I priced two paintings the same . I am new to selling and used the length + width x 10 method. So my two 8 x10" paintings were recently priced at US$185, adding only $5, a fraction of the cost of frames which were required. It was a juried show done by a local environmental group, their yearly fundraising. Neither sold; I would not have minded letting go of one but was very happy to take home the other. The latter got a ribbon, "honorable mention". Made me happy. Luckily, I'm not relying yet on sales to eat. This whole process is new to me. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Love your quick tips.
Thankyou so much Dianne for so much great advice on a difficult area for artists. Totally agree with you on painting solely as artistic creative expression and not compromising just to sell. Im def going to make a pricing chart.
I think a major problem with artists selling their work is their brain isn't wired to do the business side. I don't think it comes naturally for most creative types, and really has to be practiced. People who are not so srtistic are very creative with networking and business management; so an opportunity for both parties would be to find a partner who will help expose/push your work. A problem I struggle with is I really avoid social media for my health and well-being, so spending hours online would be grind. I'm constantly focused on creating and ust horrible at the business side of it
Well, from what I've read about having a manager or a promoter is that they can bring you clients and make you some money because they have connects with rich people who are trying to buy for tax write offs but they can become very aggressive towards the artist to get paintings produced rapidly because they get commissions and fees from your work especially if you're dealing with galleries and galas and this can make the artist burn out or departing from the manager.
I'd never accept commissions. In fact, I think I've managed to successfully swerve each and every single request on the basis that (and these are my exact words): "it REALLY doesn't interest me. I'll 100% procrastinate, and the chances are, you'll never see it materialise". Though sensitive to the things that interest me, I'm BRUTALLY honest and as tough as overcooked steak when I'm staring down the barrel of my passion becoming a chore. I respect the process THAT much that I absolutely refuse to squander time on something that doesn't turn me on, in order to please someone else. I work full time so that I'm never forced into that situation in the first place. My time, my pigments, my paints, my materials, all deserve nothing less than my full devotion. A commissioned piece is never going to allow for that. Some days, I want to paint an ambitious London scene, whilst other days, I'm content to settle on some basic peaches. And that to me, is the entire point. The freedom of expression. Great video Dianne. The pricing system you drew up is probably the way I'll go. I'm even tempted to create another row, labelled "donate to the charity shop."
Thank you. That was so helpful. I do sell my paintings, but some of them I keep. I was told by a mentor to “not get emotionally attached to your paintings” ( in regards to keeping vs selling).
That mentor wouldn't be for me -- I put everything I have into my paintings and there is no way that one doesn't bond with that work at some level. So for someone I respect to have such a cold-hearted, unrealistic attitude .... no thanks. My paintings are my babies and some are not for sale -- others? Yes.
As a professional singer, I agree on not viewing your work as a product, but as a form of expertise that comes with a vast amount of practice and training, which cannot be discounted, nor will it be offered for free simply because it is also something I love to do or somebody wants "proof" of my skills. People often simply expect me to "sing something" for them because they ask. They sing as a hobby, but I don't. I joke with them and ask if they'd ask a secretary to pull out a laptop and type something for them for free. "No!" Exactly.... (Besides, I can't stand the egotists who will launch into a mini-concert to show off & try to impress people.) ;-D ANYWAY ... thanks for this Dianne. I was taught the $X/square inch method and raise my prices incrementally every year or two -- but I'll definitely take your method into consideration. Since I'm far more dedicated to learning to paint well than into selling "my babies", it frankly doesn't matter all that much. HAHA🙂
I have dozens of paintings from when I taught classes with the paint along method. These were done in acrylics on 9x12 panels. I have reused quite a few of these panels, but still have dozens for sales at very reasonable prices.Often times I will go back in and work on some of these paintings just for the sake of painting or trying some out on them. Great thing about acrylics is that you can gesso over them and paint something new. Anyway with pricing do you price differently for a canvas panel opposed to a stretched canvas? Also do you prices mediums differently, be it water color, oil etc.? I am in my 70s so I would really like to unload my art work before I croak. Hopefully what's left will get donated and not end up in the dump.
Sharon, long ago a successful master painter advised me that a painting is a painting and its merit is within its expression, not within the material that was used to make it. That rang true with me then and still rings true today. Even though some factions of the market will consider watercolor paintings less valuable than oils, I think that is preposterous. It's the quality of the expression within the work that should determine its value.
This is timely for me. I had the opportunity to exhibit my work locally. I actually sold a few. It was an education. I wanted to know what the public, people I don't know thought of my work. What I wasn't prepared for was the effect that selling some work had on my brain. I didn't touch a brush for a month. I can't explain it well. I think a person has to experience it.
Dennis, that reaction is not uncommon. It comes from an unconscious fear that we can't do it again. Thing is, when we continue to move forward with our work, disregarding sales or awards or any of the residue, we continue to grow. However, if we place too much emphasis on those things, we will find ourselves trying to please the audience rather than continuing to grow as an artist.
Dennis, I feel you! No one has ever seen my work, not even family - because they "don't understand art". I'm the only artistic person I know. So I really, really want unbiased opinions about my work from the public, but where do I start? Social media can be great, but I don't think my fragile ego can take such a huge rejection if that might be the case. I am so scared! Congratulations both on your bravery and the fact that you sold some!
When I sold my first commission, I actually mourned the "loss" of the painting. It had been hanging in my home for some time until my client could pick it up and I'd really enjoyed painting it and liked it a lot. But when I realized that it in fact had simply gone to a "good home", it's Real Home, where it would be loved and cared for -- and that that sale could prompt others -- I was better able to wrap my head around the concept of every painting has to find the right forever home, kind of like a foster cat or dog. ;-)
I am an inventor for hire and have been well paid, now retired. I have patents that I have spend less then an hour and other 7 months every work day and thinking about the problem at home also. The value to the employer is totally dependent of the time you spent. I look at it this way. It took me many years to decades to develop the skill and back ground knowledge. That is what is the measure I use not the actual time. My comment to someone wanting a solution to a problem. Essentially I start with a faint alone that I will find a solution. I would tell them that I will find a solution and I have no idea right not what the end result will be or how long it will take for me to find a solution that I and hopefully you will be happy with.
As always I appreciate the wisdom you so generously share. As a follow up question to pricing, do you have a system you prefer to use for your painting inventory?
Excel spreadsheet allows flexibility to keep up with inventory, keep it organized and always provide up-to-date information. I suppose any spreadsheet software would do the same.
Do you have any experience with/ideas on making and selling prints of your work? I’d love a quick tip on that some day (if that doesn’t get to far away from the intention of the quick tips)
I have avoided making and selling prints. Several of my artist friends do reproductions of their works, but it's an area I've not had time or energy to get involved in.
I think artists under price their work. Remember what you pay for food lately, it is easy to pay 11.00 for lunch. When you buy food there is nothing tangible that you keep for years. In art you have something that you could maybe hand down to family or sell someday. I think this adds to the value of art. Also think of will you miss the painting. Those things should be thought about.
In fact, we do. Every third Sunday, we go live on RUclips at 2 p.m. Eastern. These sessions are always recorded and put on our channel under Live in the menu.
I like your viewpoints! Some people (and gallery owners) say you should price by square inch regardless of the work put into it or how well it turned out because buyers don't care about that stuff. I see both viewpoints, so I'm confused about how to price. I don't go by square inches though - not fair to the artist!
I love bartering. I've a question, when I donate to charities I often wish they'd pay me for canvas and paint I used, especially if they ask for a donation, not sure I should ask or expect any. Please help with this moral dilemma. Thanks 💞
Judy, it is best when donating to charity that you make a full donation. Most worthwhile charities are strapped for funds to begin with, so you don't want your donation to be more trouble than it's worth to them. It is possible that the price they might get for your work will be less than the cost of your materials. That's the chance we take when we donate our artwork. Also, if a charity asks for a donation, but it's not one you support, be willing to tell them you can't do that right now. Sometimes, organizations are not informed about the real value of paintings to the artists and often, they expect too much of the artist, so watch out for that, too.
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction thank you so much for replying. Those were my thoughts as well. When you spoke about being professional it occurred to me to ask a true one. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
5 by 7 is 35 square inches. 10 by 14 is 140 square inches. It is not twice the size, it is four times the size. The smaller one should be $50 not $100.
Edith, the pricing chart idea is to get your started pricing with a sensible pricing model. The quality of a painting always supersedes its size. That becomes more important as you grow as an artist and the quality of your work gets recognized. Remember, quality has nothing to do with what's trendy, but with your maturity in expressing your true artistic voice.
During the lockup time, I started to paint because a few friends got together and said, let’s have a 2 weakly competition. We did this for about 8-10mths. It go us through a long and for some lonely time. We were all over sixty and had not painted since we were in school as young teens. We hadn’t got a clue but we did it and it was so much fun. Every 2 weeks we’d send our paintings via WhatsApp to a friend or a family member, not telling who’s was who’s. The buildup to the finals every couple of weeks was intense and so much fun. We don’t all live in the same country so it was especially heartwarming to have the camaraderie across the world. I’ve carried on with the painting, I haven’t sold anything but I have given paintings to my grandchildren and my children and they have all wanted different ones sometimes wanting the same 😊 so my paintings are all over the world right now and I’m still painting. I have no idea at the moment what my style is, it’s quite iritic and I love painting whatever I see in the canvas but I also paint landscape and tigers and pelicans 😃😃I’m just finishing the second of 3 paintings for my daughter which are kind of caricature, there called “ painting you better” . I’m lucky as I don’t need to sell anything, I wish you all the very best along your paths of art.
Keep enjoying the journey!
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction will do, thank you
What a great idea that was. It must have been so much fun during a difficult time
I just love you! I love watching your videos, your voice, your personality, your wisdom, your work, & I could go on and on. Thanks so much for taking the time to make these videos and share your gift to those of us who can’t afford classes. You share such a wealth of knowledge.
You are a such a blessing and an inspiration🙏
It's my pleasure, Tina. Thanks for watching!
I like your method. It makes sense to ask a different price for a painting I am more attached to that's the same size as another that didn't turn out as well but is still nice. I recently felt "off" when I priced two paintings the same . I am new to selling and used the length + width x 10 method. So my two 8 x10" paintings were recently priced at US$185, adding only $5, a fraction of the cost of frames which were required. It was a juried show done by a local environmental group, their yearly fundraising. Neither sold; I would not have minded letting go of one but was very happy to take home the other. The latter got a ribbon, "honorable mention". Made me happy. Luckily, I'm not relying yet on sales to eat. This whole process is new to me. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Love your quick tips.
Thanks, Diane.
Thankyou so much Dianne for so much great advice on a difficult area for artists.
Totally agree with you on painting solely as artistic creative expression and not compromising just to sell.
Im def going to make a pricing chart.
You are so welcome!
Thanks for good sound level headed advice, I am still enjoying the journey.
Glad you enjoy it, Kevin!
I think a major problem with artists selling their work is their brain isn't wired to do the business side. I don't think it comes naturally for most creative types, and really has to be practiced. People who are not so srtistic are very creative with networking and business management; so an opportunity for both parties would be to find a partner who will help expose/push your work. A problem I struggle with is I really avoid social media for my health and well-being, so spending hours online would be grind. I'm constantly focused on creating and ust horrible at the business side of it
Well, from what I've read about having a manager or a promoter is that they can bring you clients and make you some money because they have connects with rich people who are trying to buy for tax write offs but they can become very aggressive towards the artist to get paintings produced rapidly because they get commissions and fees from your work especially if you're dealing with galleries and galas and this can make the artist burn out or departing from the manager.
Getting an agent can, itself, be an expensive business.
I'd never accept commissions. In fact, I think I've managed to successfully swerve each and every single request on the basis that (and these are my exact words): "it REALLY doesn't interest me. I'll 100% procrastinate, and the chances are, you'll never see it materialise".
Though sensitive to the things that interest me, I'm BRUTALLY honest and as tough as overcooked steak when I'm staring down the barrel of my passion becoming a chore. I respect the process THAT much that I absolutely refuse to squander time on something that doesn't turn me on, in order to please someone else. I work full time so that I'm never forced into that situation in the first place. My time, my pigments, my paints, my materials, all deserve nothing less than my full devotion. A commissioned piece is never going to allow for that.
Some days, I want to paint an ambitious London scene, whilst other days, I'm content to settle on some basic peaches. And that to me, is the entire point. The freedom of expression.
Great video Dianne. The pricing system you drew up is probably the way I'll go. I'm even tempted to create another row, labelled "donate to the charity shop."
Thanks for your comment, Mr. Snrub.
I came back and listened again. I am ready to sell. I needed all your advice thank you.
Wonderful! Enjoy the journey.
Thank you. That was so helpful. I do sell my paintings, but some of them I keep. I was told by a mentor to “not get emotionally attached to your paintings” ( in regards to keeping vs selling).
Thanks for sharing!!
That mentor wouldn't be for me -- I put everything I have into my paintings and there is no way that one doesn't bond with that work at some level. So for someone I respect to have such a cold-hearted, unrealistic attitude .... no thanks. My paintings are my babies and some are not for sale -- others? Yes.
As a professional singer, I agree on not viewing your work as a product, but as a form of expertise that comes with a vast amount of practice and training, which cannot be discounted, nor will it be offered for free simply because it is also something I love to do or somebody wants "proof" of my skills. People often simply expect me to "sing something" for them because they ask. They sing as a hobby, but I don't. I joke with them and ask if they'd ask a secretary to pull out a laptop and type something for them for free. "No!" Exactly.... (Besides, I can't stand the egotists who will launch into a mini-concert to show off & try to impress people.) ;-D
ANYWAY ... thanks for this Dianne. I was taught the $X/square inch method and raise my prices incrementally every year or two -- but I'll definitely take your method into consideration. Since I'm far more dedicated to learning to paint well than into selling "my babies", it frankly doesn't matter all that much. HAHA🙂
Thanks for adding this.
I have dozens of paintings from when I taught classes with the paint along method. These were done in acrylics on 9x12 panels. I have reused quite a few of these panels, but still have dozens for sales at very reasonable prices.Often times I will go back in and work on some of these paintings just for the sake of painting or trying some out on them. Great thing about acrylics is that you can gesso over them and paint something new.
Anyway with pricing do you price differently for a canvas panel opposed to a stretched canvas? Also do you prices mediums differently, be it water color, oil etc.?
I am in my 70s so I would really like to unload my art work before I croak. Hopefully what's left will get donated and not end up in the dump.
Sharon, long ago a successful master painter advised me that a painting is a painting and its merit is within its expression, not within the material that was used to make it. That rang true with me then and still rings true today. Even though some factions of the market will consider watercolor paintings less valuable than oils, I think that is preposterous. It's the quality of the expression within the work that should determine its value.
Exactly the message I needed to hear today!
Great!
This is great! I am glad others ask the questions, since I wouldn’t have even thought of them! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.
Wonderful! that is the way I was looking at pricing, I just had not moved it to a chart from in my head. Thank you teacher, and your teacher.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.
This is helpful, thank you!
My pleasure.
This is timely for me. I had the opportunity to exhibit my work locally. I actually sold a few. It was an education.
I wanted to know what the public, people I don't know thought of my work.
What I wasn't prepared for was the effect that selling some work had on my brain.
I didn't touch a brush for a month.
I can't explain it well.
I think a person has to experience it.
Dennis, that reaction is not uncommon. It comes from an unconscious fear that we can't do it again. Thing is, when we continue to move forward with our work, disregarding sales or awards or any of the residue, we continue to grow. However, if we place too much emphasis on those things, we will find ourselves trying to please the audience rather than continuing to grow as an artist.
Dennis, I feel you! No one has ever seen my work, not even family - because they "don't understand art". I'm the only artistic person I know. So I really, really want unbiased opinions about my work from the public, but where do I start? Social media can be great, but I don't think my fragile ego can take such a huge rejection if that might be the case. I am so scared!
Congratulations both on your bravery and the fact that you sold some!
When I sold my first commission, I actually mourned the "loss" of the painting. It had been hanging in my home for some time until my client could pick it up and I'd really enjoyed painting it and liked it a lot. But when I realized that it in fact had simply gone to a "good home", it's Real Home, where it would be loved and cared for -- and that that sale could prompt others -- I was better able to wrap my head around the concept of every painting has to find the right forever home, kind of like a foster cat or dog. ;-)
Thank you, just in the nick of time. I am showing my oils for the first time in gallery. This helped immensely. Cheers.
Glad it helped. Thanks for watching.
This is a completely new (and better) way for me for looking at pricing.
I hope you find a way to make it work for you. Thanks for watching.
So glad I tuned in. Great info! Thank you so much. ❤️
You are so welcome!
I am so happy to have met you ! Thank you so much!
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
I am an inventor for hire and have been well paid, now retired. I have patents that I have spend less then an hour and other 7 months every work day and thinking about the problem at home also. The value to the employer is totally dependent of the time you spent. I look at it this way. It took me many years to decades to develop the skill and back ground knowledge. That is what is the measure I use not the actual time.
My comment to someone wanting a solution to a problem. Essentially I start with a faint alone that I will find a solution. I would tell them that I will find a solution and I have no idea right not what the end result will be or how long it will take for me to find a solution that I and hopefully you will be happy with.
The creative mind works in wondrous ways.
As always I appreciate the wisdom you so generously share. As a follow up question to pricing, do you have a system you prefer to use for your painting inventory?
Excel spreadsheet allows flexibility to keep up with inventory, keep it organized and always provide up-to-date information. I suppose any spreadsheet software would do the same.
Do you have any experience with/ideas on making and selling prints of your work? I’d love a quick tip on that some day (if that doesn’t get to far away from the intention of the quick tips)
I have avoided making and selling prints. Several of my artist friends do reproductions of their works, but it's an area I've not had time or energy to get involved in.
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Ah I see, a good example of staying true to yourself as an artist!
Very helpful!
So glad. Thanks for watching.
I like your blue shirt for a change 👩🎨
I hope you found it helpful.
Great video
Thanks.
I think artists under price their work. Remember what you pay for food lately, it is easy to pay 11.00 for lunch. When you buy food there is nothing tangible that you keep for years. In art you have something that you could maybe hand down to family or sell someday. I think this adds to the value of art. Also think of will you miss the painting. Those things should be thought about.
Thanks for this.
Did not know you do livestreams!
In fact, we do. Every third Sunday, we go live on RUclips at 2 p.m. Eastern. These sessions are always recorded and put on our channel under Live in the menu.
I like your viewpoints! Some people (and gallery owners) say you should price by square inch regardless of the work put into it or how well it turned out because buyers don't care about that stuff. I see both viewpoints, so I'm confused about how to price. I don't go by square inches though - not fair to the artist!
Try my method and see how it works for you.
Is the worth of a painting really proportional to it's size?
No. But every painter had to start somewhere. This pricing chart is not a bad place to start.
I love bartering. I've a question, when I donate to charities I often wish they'd pay me for canvas and paint I used, especially if they ask for a donation, not sure I should ask or expect any. Please help with this moral dilemma. Thanks 💞
Judy, it is best when donating to charity that you make a full donation. Most worthwhile charities are strapped for funds to begin with, so you don't want your donation to be more trouble than it's worth to them. It is possible that the price they might get for your work will be less than the cost of your materials. That's the chance we take when we donate our artwork.
Also, if a charity asks for a donation, but it's not one you support, be willing to tell them you can't do that right now. Sometimes, organizations are not informed about the real value of paintings to the artists and often, they expect too much of the artist, so watch out for that, too.
@@IntheStudioArtInstruction thank you so much for replying. Those were my thoughts as well. When you spoke about being professional it occurred to me to ask a true one. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺
5 by 7 is 35 square inches. 10 by 14 is 140 square inches. It is not twice the size, it is four times the size. The smaller one should be $50 not $100.
Thank you, Nancy. I got that backwards.
" If you paint to make money shame on you ". Richard Schmid! How is it possible to love someone you have never met?
What a lovely comment! I love Richard Schmid, too!
How important is it to be consistent in pricing within a given size?
Edith, the pricing chart idea is to get your started pricing with a sensible pricing model. The quality of a painting always supersedes its size. That becomes more important as you grow as an artist and the quality of your work gets recognized. Remember, quality has nothing to do with what's trendy, but with your maturity in expressing your true artistic voice.